Val'kyr

Faction/Affiliation

Racial capital

Racial leader(s)

Homeworld

Val'kyr are a type of undead Vrykul, and seem to be a recent addition to the armies of the Scourge. They act as the Lich King's agents in the spirit world, being described by Thoralius the Wise as being "fearsome creatures made of pure nightmare" that "now stand watch over the realm of the elements".[2]

Val'kyr are created from the female vrykul dwellers of Valkyrion who accept the Lich King's "gift".[3]Valkyrion Aspirants can be found at Valkyrion as well as Nascent Val'kyr. At least one example exists of a female vrykul being turned into a val'kyr at another location as well.[4] Val'kyr serve as judges for vrykul combatants and decide which become vargul or ymirjar,[5][6] and also judge slain vrykul.[2]

Contents

The Val'kyr were the ones who carried the souls of the worthy Vrykul from the Shadowlands to the Halls of Valor.[7] Odyn's plan was to create an army, the Valarjar, in order to protect Azeroth, because he didn't trust the Dragon Aspects. The Valajar were fallen Vrykul, whose souls were carried by the Val'kyr, fallen warrior women who had demonstrated courage. Helya was made the first Valk'kr against her will by Odyn. Meanwhile, the Titanic Watcher Loken, corrupted by the Old God Yogg-Saron, wanted to slay his brothers to protect himself. Loken wanted Helya to defeat Odyn, and she gladly accepted his call, wanting revenge for all the terrible things Odyn had done to her. Since then, she trapped Odyn in the Halls of Valor, and forms an army in her realm, Helheim, where the fallen, unworthy Vrykul are taken.

After the death of the Lich King, many val'kyr became "unemployed", and have been conscripted into the Forsaken ranks. In order to bolster the Forsaken's numbers, Sylvanas Windrunner has put them to work in resurrecting their dead enemies into their service, as explained to Warchief Garrosh Hellscream during a meeting in Silverpine Forest:

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Where is that Ogre-headed buffoon?

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Ah, speak of the devil...

Portals from Orgrimmar arrive with Hellscream, Hellscream's elite, and High Warlord Cromush.

Hellscream jumps from the portal down to Sylvanas.

Garrosh Hellscream says: This better be important, Sylvanas. You know how I detest this place and its foul stench. Why have you called for me?

Garrosh Hellscream says: And more importantly, what are those Scourge fiends doing here?

Garrosh makes a gesture at the Val'kyr.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Warchief, so glad you could make it.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: With the death of the Lich King, many of the more intelligent Scourge became...unemployed. Those 'fiends,' as you so delicately put it, are called val'kyr. They are under my command now...

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: ...and they are part of the reason that I asked to see you.

Garrosh Hellscream says: Get on with it, Sylvanas.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Very well, Warchief. I have solved the plight of the Forsaken!

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: As a race, we Forsaken are unable to procreate.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: With the aid of the val'kyr, we are now able to take the corpses of the fallen and create new Forsaken.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Agatha, show the Warchief!

The Val'kyr Agatha proceeds to resurrect fallen corpses as Forsaken.

High Warlord Cromush says: ABERRATION!

Garrosh Hellscream says: What you have done here, Sylvanas...it goes against the laws of nature. Disgusting is the only word I have to describe it.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Warchief, without these new Forsaken my people would die out...Our hold upon Gilneas and northern Lordaeron would crumble.

Garrosh Hellscream says: Have you given any thought to what this means, Sylvanas?

Garrosh Hellscream says: What difference is there between you and the Lich King now?

"Val'kyr" is an obvious reference to the Valkyries of Norse myth — minor female deities in the service of Odin. Their duty was to choose the most heroic spirits of slain warriors and take them to Valhalla, where they would serve at Odin's side in the Ragnarök.